Wireless communication node with an antenna arrangement for triple band reception and transmission

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a wireless communication network node which comprises an antenna arrangement having at least three antenna columns. Each antenna column comprises at least two antenna elements of a first polarization (P1) and at least two antenna elements of a second polarization (P2), orthogonal to the first polarization (P1). For each antenna column, the antenna elements of the first polarization (P1) are connected to a combined port of a corresponding first filter device, and the antenna elements of the second polarization (P2) are connected to a combined port of a corresponding second filter device. Each of the filter devices is arranged to separate signals of different frequency bands between the respective combined port and respective filter ports. The antenna arrangement is arranged for transmission at two different channels (TX1, TX2) and reception at four different channels (RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4) for three different frequency bands (f1, f2, f3).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A wireless communication network node, the node comprising:
 an antenna arrangement, comprising: 
 at least three antenna columns each antenna column comprising at least four antenna elements of a first polarization (P 1 ) and at least four antenna elements of a second polarization (P 2 ), the first polarization (P 1 ) and the second polarization (P 2 ) being mutually orthogonal, wherein 
 for each antenna column, the antenna elements of the first polarization (P 1 ) are connected to a combined port of a corresponding first filter device, 
 for each antenna column, the antenna elements of the second polarization (P 2 ) are connected to a combined port of a corresponding second filter device, 
 each of said filter devices being arranged to separate signals of different frequency bands between the respective combined port and respective filter ports, and 
 the antenna arrangement is arranged for transmission at two different channels (TX 1 , TX 2 ) and reception at four different channels (RX 1 , RX 2 , RX 3 , RX 4 ) for three different frequency bands (f 1 , f 2 , f 3 ). 
 
     
     
       2. The node of  claim 1 , wherein each antenna column comprises a first set of subarrays and a second set of subarrays, where each of said first set of subarrays comprises the antenna elements having the first polarization (P 1 ) and each of said second set of subarrays comprises the antenna elements having the second polarization (P 2 ), each set of subarrays either comprising:
 at least two subarrays where each subarray in turn comprises at least one antenna element, or 
 at least one subarray where each subarray in turn comprises at least two antenna elements. 
 
     
     
       3. The node of  claim 2 , wherein, when each set of subarrays comprises at least two subarrays, the antenna elements of the first polarization (P 1 ) are connected to the combined port of said corresponding first filter device via a first corresponding phase altering device, and the antenna elements of the second polarization (P 2 ) are connected to the combined port of said corresponding second filter device via a second corresponding phase altering device. 
     
     
       4. The node of  claim 3 , wherein the phase altering devices are arranged to control the phase of the subarrays such that an electrical steering of an antenna radiation main lobe of each antenna column is enabled. 
     
     
       5. The node of  claim 1 , wherein each filter device comprises a first filter port and a second filter port, each filter device being arranged to separate signals of different frequency bands between the respective combined port and the respective filter ports such that each first filter port is arranged for transmission and reception of signals at one frequency band and each second filter port is arranged for reception of signals at another frequency band. 
     
     
       6. The node of  claim 5 , wherein, for each antenna column, the first filter ports are connected to different transmitter channels (TX 1 , TX 2 ). 
     
     
       7. The node of  claim 5 , wherein, for each antenna column, the first filter ports are connected to either one of a first reception channel (RX 1 ) and a second reception channel (RX 2 ), and for each antenna column the second filter ports are connected to either one of a third reception channel (RX 3 ) and a fourth reception channel (RX 4 ). 
     
     
       8. The node of  claim 1 , wherein there is a first transmitter channel (TX 1 ) and a second transmitter channel (TX 2 ), the first transmission channel (TX 1 ) being associated with the first polarization (P 1 ) and the second transmission channel (TX 2 ) being associated with the second polarization (P 2 ). 
     
     
       9. The node of  claim 1 , wherein each filter device is constituted by a diplexer. 
     
     
       10. The node of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna columns have respective main extensions in an elevation direction (E). 
     
     
       11. The node of  claim 10 , wherein the antenna columns are physically separated in either an azimuth direction (A) or the elevation direction (E), the azimuth direction (A) and the elevation direction (E) being mutually orthogonal. 
     
     
       12. A wireless communication network node, the node comprising:
 an antenna arrangement comprising a first column, a second column, and a third column; 
 the first column comprising:
 first and second antenna elements of a first polarization (P 1 ) and third and fourth antenna elements of a second polarization (P 2 ), the first polarization (P 1 ) and the second polarization (P 2 ) being mutually orthogonal; 
 a first phase shifter coupled to the first and second antenna elements of the first polarization (P 1 ) and having a first diplexer-side port; 
 a second phase shifter coupled to the third and fourth antenna elements of the second polarization (P 2 ) and having a second diplexer-side port; 
 a first diplexer having a first combined port and first and second filter ports, wherein the first antenna element and the second antenna element of the first polarization (P 1 ) are connected to the first diplexer-side port of the first phase shifter and the first phase shifter is connected to the first combined port of the first diplexer; and 
 a second diplexer having a second combined port and third and fourth filter ports, wherein the third antenna element and the fourth antenna element of the second polarization (P 2 ) are connected to the second diplexer-side port of the second phase shifter and the second phase shifter is connected to the second combined port of the second diplexer; 
 the first diplexer being arranged to separate signals of different frequency bands between the first combined port and the first and second filter ports; and 
 the second diplexer being arranged to separate signals of different frequency bands between the second combined port and the third and fourth filter ports; 
 
 the second column comprising:
 fifth and sixth antenna elements of the first polarization (P 1 ) and seventh and eighth antenna elements of the second polarization (P 2 ); 
 the fifth and sixth antenna elements of the first polarization (P 1 ) are connected to a third combined port of a third diplexer; 
 a third phase shifter coupled to the fifth and sixth antenna elements of the first polarization (P 1 ) and having a third diplexer-side port; 
 a fourth phase shifter coupled to the seventh and eighth antenna elements of the second polarization (P 2 ) and having a fourth diplexer-side port; 
 a third diplexer having a third combined port and fifth and sixth filter ports, wherein the fifth antenna element and the sixth antenna element of the first polarization (P 1 ) are connected to the third diplexer-side port of the third phase shifter and the third phase shifter is connected to the third combined port of the third diplexer; 
 a fourth diplexer having a fourth combined port and seventh and eighth filter ports, wherein the seventh antenna element and the eighth antenna element of the second polarization (P 2 ) are connected to the fourth diplexer-side port of the fourth phase shifter and the fourth phase shifter is connected to the fourth combined port of the fourth diplexer; 
 the third diplexer being arranged to separate signals of different frequency bands between the third combined port and the fifth and sixth filter ports; and 
 the fourth diplexer being arranged to separate signals of different frequency bands between the fourth combined port and the seventh and eighth filter ports; and 
 
 the third column comprising:
 ninth and tenth antenna elements of the first polarization (P 1 ) and eleventh and twelfth antenna elements of the second polarization (P 2 ); 
 the ninth and tenth antenna elements of the first polarization (P 1 ) are connected to a fifth combined port of a fifth diplexer; 
 a fifth phase shifter coupled to the ninth and tenth antenna elements of the first polarization (P 1 ) and having a fifth diplexer-side port; 
 a sixth phase shifter coupled to the eleventh and twelfth antenna elements of the second polarization (P 2 ) and having a sixth diplexer-side port; 
 a fifth diplexer having a fifth combined port and ninth and tenth filter ports, wherein the ninth antenna element and the tenth antenna element of the first polarization (P 1 ) are connected to the fifth diplexer-side port of the fifth phase shifter and the fifth phase shifter is connected to the fifth combined port of the fifth diplexer; 
 a sixth diplexer having a sixth combined port and eleventh and twelfth filter ports, wherein the eleventh antenna element and the twelfth antenna element of the second polarization (P 2 ) are connected to the sixth diplexer-side port of the sixth phase shifter and the sixth phase shifter is connected to the sixth combined port of the sixth diplexer; 
 the fifth diplexer being arranged to separate signals of different frequency bands between the fifth combined port and the ninth and tenth filter ports; and 
 the sixth diplexer being arranged to separate signals of different frequency bands between the sixth combined port and the eleventh and twelfth filter ports, 
 
 wherein the antenna arrangement is arranged for transmission at two different channels (TX 1 , TX 2 ) and reception at four different channels (RX 1 , RX 2 , RX 3 , RX 4 ) for three different frequency bands (f 1 , f 2 , f 3 ). 
 
     
     
       13. The node of  claim 12 , wherein
 the first column further comprises:
 thirteenth and fourteenth antenna elements of the first polarization (P 1 ) and fifteenth and sixteenth antenna elements of the second polarization (p 2 ); 
 the first phase shifter being coupled to the thirteenth and fourteenth antenna elements of the first polarization (P 1 ); 
 the second phase shifter being coupled to the fifteenth and sixteenth antenna elements of the second polarization (P 2 ); 
 wherein the thirteenth antenna element and the fourteenth antenna element of the first polarization (P 1 ) are connected to the first diplexer-side port of the first phase shifter; and 
 wherein the fifteenth antenna element and the sixteenth antenna element of the second polarization (P 2 ) are connected to the second diplexer-side port of the second phase shifter; 
 
 the second column comprising:
 seventeenth and eighteenth antenna elements of the first polarization (P 1 ) and nineteenth and twentieth antenna elements of the second polarization (p 2 ); 
 the third phase shifter being coupled to the seventeenth and eighteenth antenna elements of the first polarization (P 1 ); 
 the fourth phase shifter being coupled to the nineteenth and twentieth antenna elements of the second polarization (P 2 ); 
 wherein the seventeenth antenna element and the eighteenth antenna element of the first polarization (P 1 ) are connected to the third diplexer-side port of the third phase shifter; and 
 wherein the nineteenth antenna element and the twentieth antenna element of the second polarization (P 2 ) are connected to the fourth diplexer-side port of the fourth phase shifter; and 
 
 the third column comprising:
 twenty-first and twenty-second antenna elements of the first polarization (P 1 ) and twenty-third and twenty-fourth antenna elements of the second polarization (p 2 ); 
 the fifth phase shifter being coupled to the twenty-first and twenty-second antenna elements of the first polarization (P 1 ); 
 the sixth phase shifter being coupled to the twenty-third and twenty-fourth antenna elements of the second polarization (P 2 ); 
 wherein the twenty-first antenna element and the twenty-second antenna element of the first polarization (P 1 ) are connected to the fifth diplexer-side port of the fifth phase shifter; and 
 wherein the twenty-third antenna element and the twenty-fourth antenna element of the second polarization (P 2 ) are connected to the sixth diplexer-side port of the sixth phase shifter.